Daphne plant named `DAPJUR01&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Daphne  cultivar named ‘DAPJUR01’ is disclosed, characterized by an abundance of large, highly fragrant flowers. Plants are bushy and produce unique, unusually long racemes of flowers. Additionally the new variety is sun tolerant. The new variety is a  Daphne , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Daphne odora×bholua

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘DAPJUR01 ’

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Daphne cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Mark Jury. The new variety resulted from acrossing performed in 2004 in North Taranaki, Nth Is, New Zealand. Theseed parent is the unpatented variety, Daphne odora ‘Grace Stewart’. Thepollen parent is an unnamed, unpatented variety Daphne bholua. The newvariety was first selected in 2010, by the inventor, Mark Jury at acommercial nursery in North Taranaki, New Zealand.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was performed by vegetativecuttings. This was first performed at a research greenhouse in NorthTaranaki, New Zealand in 2011 and has shown that the unique features ofthis cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in more than 10successive generations.

First public access to the variety occurred during June 2014, by asource receiving material from the inventor. Prior to this, all plantmaterial was confidentially held by the inventor, or a party receivingplant material directly from the inventor. Any party obtaining plantmaterial from the inventor also prevented public access to plants of thenew variety. Plant Breeder's rights have been applied for in Europe,Apr. 22, 2015, having CPVO application number 2015/0907.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DAPJUR01’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘DAPJUR01’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘DAPJUR01’ as a new and distinct Daphnecultivar:

-   1. Large flowers.-   2. Unique flowering configuration, with flowers forming a spike like    raceme, instead of a terminal cluster head of flowers, which is    typical of Daphne.-   3. Highly fragrant flowers.-   4. Suitability for both container and garden plantings.-   5. Bushy plant habit.-   6. Sun tolerance.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DAPJUR01’ are similar to plants of the seedparent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the newcultivar ‘DAPJUR01’ differ in the following;

-   1. The new variety has a much larger flower.-   2. The new variety is more floriferous.-   3. The new variety has a lighter color flower.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DAPJUR01’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants ofthe new cultivar ‘DAPJUR01’ differ in the following;

-   1. Plants of ‘DAPJUR01’ are more compact in habit than the pollen    parent.-   2. Plants of ‘DAPJUR01’ produce a larger flower.-   3. The new variety produces a deeper colored flower.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DAPJUR01’ are comparable to the unpatentedcommercial variety Daphne odora ‘Alba’. The two Daphne varieties aresimilar in most horticultural characteristics; however, the new variety‘DAPJUR01’ differs in the following:

-   1. The new variety has larger flowers.-   2. Flowers of the new variety are light pink. The comparator's    flowers are white.-   3. New variety has a lighter leaf color.-   4. The new variety is sun tolerant. The comparator is not known to    be sun tolerant.-   5. The new variety has a longer flowering period.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘DAPJUR01’ grown in a nursery. Age of the plantphotographed is approximately 2 years old. FIG. 2 illustrates a close upof the inflorescence and foliage. The photographs were taken usingconventional techniques and although colors may appear different fromactual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible byconventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2005 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘DAPJUR01’ plants grown outdoors during theSpring and Summer in North Taranaki, New Zealand. The growingtemperature ranged from 12° C. to 30° C. during the day and from 8° C.to 15° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normalsunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Daphne ‘ DAPJUR01 ’-   Propagation:    -   -   Time to rooting.—Approximately 4 to 8 weeks at approximately            20° C. to 30° C. from semi-hardwood cuttings.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous young roots. Older roots            becoming woody.-   Plant:    -   -   Age of plant described.—Approximately 2 years.        -   Growth habit.—Strong, bushy, compact deciduous shrub.        -   Height.—Mature plant height approximately 100 to 120 cm.        -   Plant spread.—100 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Rapid for Genus.        -   Branching characteristics.—Above average branching for            Genus.        -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches.—Quantity of            Primary Lateral Branches: 5.        -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Approximately 0.5 cm.        -   Lateral branch strength.—Very strong, with some flexibility.        -   Lateral branch color.—Young branches near RHS Yellow-Green            144A. Mature branches (more than 3 years) near RHS Brown            N199A.        -   Other stem or plant characteristics.—No pubescence or            lenticels observed. Texture moderately rough.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—Type: Simple Arrangement: Alternate Average Length:            Approximately 10.0 cm. Average Width: Approximately 3.0 cm.            Shape of blade: Elliptic Apex: Acute, or occasionally            mucronate Base: Tapered Attachment: Sessile Margin: Entire            Texture of top surface: Smooth Texture of bottom surface:            Smooth Leaf internode length: Approximately 0.9 to 1.5 cm            Color: Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144A.            Young foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 144B. Mature            foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 138A. Mature foliage            under side: Near RHS Green 138A. Venation: Type: Pinnate.            Venation color upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green N144A.            Venation color under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green N144B.        -   Petiole.—Not present, sessile.-   Flower:    -   -   Natural flowering season.—Autumn until Spring.        -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit.—Raceme. Single            trumpet shaped flowers composed of petaloid sepals. Corolla            not present.        -   Inflorescence.—Diameter: Approximately 6.0 cm. Length:            Average 12.0 cm.        -   Individual flower.—Diameter: Approximately 3.0 to 4.0 cm.            Depth: Approximately 5.0 cm. Quantity of flowers per            inflorescence: Average range 16 to 24.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-cleaning.        -   Fragrance.—Very strong sweet scent.        -   Bud.—Shape: Conical operculum Length: 1 cm Diameter: 0.3 cm            Color: RHS Purple 77B.        -   Petaloid sepals.—Quantity: 4 Length: Approximately 1.0 to            2.0 cm. Width: Approximately 0.6 to 0.9 cm. Apex: Acute.            Shape of petal: Ovate. Petal margin: Entire. Petal            Arrangement: Whorled, not overlapping. Petal Texture: Smooth            Color: Upper surface at first opening: Near RHS Violet-Blue            92D, margin Red-Purple 72B. Under surface at maturity: Near            RHS Near RHS Violet-Blue 92D, margin Red-Purple 72B.        -   Pedicels.—Length: 1.0 cm Diameter: 0.2 cm Color: RHS            Yellow-green 144B Texture: Pubescent.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Stamens.—Number (per flower): 4 Filament length: 0.1 cm            Anthers: Shape: Conical Length: 0.05 mm Color: RHS White            N155D.        -   Pollen.—Pollen not produced.        -   Pistils.—Quantity per flower: 1 Length: 0.2 cm Styles:            Length: Less than 0.1 cm Color: RHS White N155D.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Not produced.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor            susceptibility to the normal diseases and pests of Daphne            has been observed.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Tolerates temperatures from            approximately −15° C. to 38° C.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Daphne plant named‘DAPJUR01’ as herein illustrated and described.